Message-delivery system.



vvO. W. HART.

MESSAGE DELIVERY SYSTEM.

Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

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Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

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MESSAGE ,DELIVERY SYSTEM. APPucATloN msn Aus.28. :913.

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O. W. HART.

MESSAGE DELIVERY SYSTEM.

APPLICATION man Aue.28. 1913.

Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

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MESSAGE DELIVERY SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG23| 1913.

Patented Nv. 30, 1915.

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0. W. HART.

MESSAGE DELIVERY SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.28, 9|3 1,162,159. Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

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MESSAGE DELIVERY SYSTEM.

APPLICATION EILED AUG.2B. |913. 1,162,159.

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atented Nov. 30, 1915.

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ORLANDO W. HART, OF FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS.

MESSAGE-DELIVERY SYSTEM.

Application filed August 28, 1913.

To all whom -z' may Concern.'

Be it knownthat I, ORLANDO IV. HART, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Fall River, county of Bristol, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Message-Delivery Systems, of which the following is a description.

My invention relates to message delivery systems and more particularly to a message delivery system which isa especially adapted for railroad practice or the like, and wherein the delivery of a recorded or Written message or order at a certain point, such as a sub-station on a line, is controllable from a remote point, such as the central station on the line. l

In general, the system embraced by the present invention consists of a message delivery means or arrangement comprising a central station united by a line circuit with one or more sub-stations and a message'delivery device at each sub-station controllable from the central station over the line circuit, in combination with a signaling means or arrangement comprising a signal at each sub-station and suitable means, preferably operable over said line circuit, whereby said signals are controllable from the central station to call attention to the substati'ons, and with suitable means providing for intercommunication between the central station and the sub-stations and whereby the desired orders or messages may be transmitted from the central station to the substations to be recorded or written on suitable material with which the message delivery devices are-provided. Each of the message delivery devices preferablv comprises -an autographic register provided with means, such as a plurality of strips of paper with carbon paper disposed between the several strips, whereby any message or order may be recorded or written in manifold,v

and suitable means, either manual or motive,

though preferably the latter, for operating vSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

serial No. 787,234.

utilized in my invention to provide for intercommunication between the central station and the sub-stations, the means I preferably provide for this purpose consists of a telephone system wherein the telephone circuit preferably includes the line circuit connecting the central station and sub-stations.

The principal objects of my invention are as follows First, to provide means whereby an operator at one place, as a. central station, may control the delivery of a message or order manually written at a distant point, such as a sub-station, so that the delivery of the message at the distant point or sub-station may be rendered certain without the need of depending on the presence of a regular operator at such distant point or sub-station; second, to provide means for transmitting to the central station an indication or answer back of the operation of the message delivery device at a sub-station and also, in a system where there are a plurality of sub-stations, a signal or answer back characteristic of the sub-station at which any message delivery device is located upon the operation of the latter; third, to provide means for recording-and timing at the central station, the de ivery of a message at a sub-station; fourth, to provide means whereby an operator at one place or a central station, may selectively control the operation of the message delivery devices at a plurality of points or sub-stations; fifth. to provide suitable means including a signal controllable from the place or central station from which a message delivery device is controllable to attract or call the attention of the person or persons to whom it is desired to deliver a message or messages. to the place or sub-station at which such device is located, and where there are a plurality of places or sub-stations at which message delivery devices are located, to provide means for selectively controlling from the central station a plurality of such signals which are respectively located at such places or substations; sixth, to provide an arrangement whereby', when a telephone set is employed as the means for inter-communication between the central station and sub-stations and the telephone vcircuit includes the line circuit of the message delivery means or arrangement. the telephone circuit will not be complicated. unbalanced or overloaded. and also to avoid these contingencies when, in

addition, the signals at the sub-station are controllable over such lline circuit; seventh, to provide protective means for the material of each .message delivery device on which the messages or orders transmitted from the central station are adapted to be recorded or written, which means is preferably adapted to coperate with the corresponding signal of the signaling means or the corresponding telephone instrument, or both, to prevent persons from tampering with said material or writing thereon except atl the proper time; eighth, to provide an arrangement whereby the operation of the delivery device at any place .or sub-station may be controlled from a given point, such as the cen- A tral station, only when tle corresponding signal is at a certain position, such as stop position; ninth, to provide a message delivery device of such construction as to render the same interchangeable for use at any one of a plurality of places or sub-stations ona line; tenth, to'provide a message delivery device with means whereby, upon each operation of the device, only a predetermined amount or length of material on which the messages or orders are recorded may be delivered; eleventh, to provide means comprising a motor adapted, when a message delivery device 'has been rendered operative,

to yautomatically operate the autographic register of the'said device a predetermined amount so as to deliver a message or order of a certain length and also preferably to store a duplicate thereof in the register;

- twelfth, to provide a system wherein an electro-magnet is employed for controlling the message deliveryA device at any sub-sta tion and wherein such magnet is normally removed from the circuit connecting the substation and the central station, but whichl may, under certain conditions, be readily connected in said circuit; thirteenth, to provide a system wherein the message delivery device at a place such as a sub-station, is controllable by some currentsloverA the line circuit connecting such sub-station and the centralstation but not by others; fourteenth, to provide a system wherein at each substation a common selector instrument controllable vfrom the central station is employed for. the corresponding signal and message delivery device; fifteenth, to provide a system comprising co'iperating signaling means, message delivery means,.and telephonie means, all including the line circuit connecting the central station and substations; sixteenth,A to provide a system of this character wherein all parts may be readily restored to normal position; seventeenth,.to prevent the winding of the motor of the message delivery device at any substation of the system, when the protective cover for such device 1s in protecting or closed posltlon; eighteenth. to provide an arrangement whereby when the protective cover for the'message delivery device at a sub-station is moved from protecting posi-I tion, indication thereof will be transmitted to the central station; nineteenth, to provide a construction whereby, after the winding operation of the motor for a` message delivery device has been completed, any interference with the operation of the motor by the winding means is prevented.

Other objects and features of my invention will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a clearer understanding of my invention, attention is directed to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which several simple and several more complicated embodiments of my invention are illustrated, andvin which:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of a comparatively simple form of my invention, wherein the rendering operative of the delivery device at a sub-station depends upon both a person at the sub-station and the operator at the central station; Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modified form of my invention, wherein means is provided for.

transmitting to the central station from any sub-station, an answer back characteristic of such sub-station and indicative of the operation of the message delivery device thereat; Fig. 3 is a similar view of a further modified form of my invention, wherein provision is made for selectively control lingfrom the central station the devices at a plurality of sub-stations, and wherein the rendering operative of a message delivery device at any substation is entirely under the controlvof an .operator at the central station; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a part of a message delivery system in accordance' with myl invention, showing a modified form of message delivery device which may be employed at the sub-stations of a system such as is illustrated in Fig. 3, wherein a motor controllable from the central station isl employed to operate the message delivery means, and wherein means, in addition to the answer hack means, is employed for transmitting to the central station an indication of the operation of the message delivery means; Fig. .5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating in part, a still further modification of my inventicn,where in a. signalin system embodying signals at the sub-stations which are selectively controllable from the central station, isl employed 1n conjunction with a message delivery arrangement such as shown in F ig. 4; Fig. 6 1s a` v,vliew in side elevation showing somewhat diagrammatically, a modified form of motor-operated message deliveryv device which mav be employed in my system, the controlling means forl the motor thereof and the electrical connections thereto; Fig. 7 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan View of the apparatus shown 'in Fig. 6, parts being omitted; Fig. 8 is a sectional View, partly broken away and with parts omitted, taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the relative and normal positions of cei'tain parts of the apparatus shown in Figs. 6 to 8, that is, the positions of these parts when the motor is in inoperative condition or denergized: Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the relative position of the. parts afterthe motor has been wound, but before the release thereof Fig. 11 is a similar view showing the-relative position of the parts after the ers I and I are delivered outside the casing motor has been released and has completed a part of its operation; Fig. 12 is a side 'elevational view partly in section and partly broken away, of novel winding means which may be used for the niotoi of a message delivery device such as is shown inFig. l or in Figs. 6 to 8; Fig. 12a is a sectional view. partly broken away, taken on line of Fig. 12; Fig. 13 is a front view, partly broken away, ofthe winding means illustrated in Fig. 12. showing the relative nornial position of the parts; Fig. 14 is a view sition of the parts at the completion of a winding operation and just after relieving the winding crank from the winding pres-y sure; Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 13, showing the relative position of thel parts after the winding crank has been returned to normal position but before operation of the motor; Fig. 16 is a view in elevation, partly in section, partly broken away, and with parts omitted, showing the protective cover for the autographic register of a message delivery device .employed in my invention, and vmeans whereby the signal and telephone receiver at the sub-station vhere the said device is located, coperate with andccntrol saidcover; and Fig. 17 is an enlarged ,detailed view of the connection between the protective cover shown in Fig. 16 and the alarm operable thereby.

A simple embodiment of my invention is shown in Fig. 1, wherein message delivery devices, each comprising an autographic register, are respectively. disposed at a plurality of sub-stations connected by a line rcircuit with the central station, and wherein the telephone system includes said line circuit. Any of the well known lconmiercia-l forms of autographic registers and telephone systems iiiay be employed to answer the purposes of this form of my invention and the same therefore do not need to be described in detail. l

It is desirable to produce in the delivery device at a sub-station, one original copy and two or more duplicate copies of any message .or order. This is done by writing with a pencil on that portion of the uppermost ter.

of three layers of paper from the rollers I, I and I disposed over pad B. Between the layers of paper from these rolls carbon papers are held in position so that the message paper may be moved along and the carbon paper used to copy `several messages thereon. After the message has been inscribed as received over the telephone from the central station, the handle C is turned, thereby effecting the turning of rollers F, F. which are in geared relation to each other and so arranged as to exert a pressure on the paper from the rollers I, I and I, which passes between them. As the paper advances, portions of the strips from rolllatter when a certain length of paper, suitsiiiiilar to Fig. 13 showing the relative poable for the message. has beendelivered. This is accomplished by reason of the cooperation of the .pivoted armature A of magnet M with the notched wheel H. Armature A is provided with a detent Awhich is adapted to engage the notch V of wheel H to lock the latter and thereby the regis- Spring 1V holds armature `A in an engaged position so long as magnet M is not energized, and thus prevents the operation of handle C and the delivery of messagesffrom the register. lVhen the order has been telcphoned from the central station to an outlying sub-station. a message cannot'be taken until the operator releases 4the delivery device from the central station bv'efecting the energization of the magnet M. When ordered to do so. the person at the` sub-station presses button e, the operator at the central station also presses button c, thereby completing the battery circuit. and current will flow from batteryT B through conductor 7 to ground G. then through conductor 3. magnet M. conductors 2. Z. L', 4 and 5. bell B. and conductor 6 to battery B. When the circuit has been made complete. armature A is atti-acted bv magnet M and releases the notched disk H. pern'iittingl the handle (l to be turued. As soon as the disk H has been started. the operator at the central station releases key c which opens the battery circuit. thereby deenergizing magnet M. and'allows spring lV 125 to move armature A to a position to engage the notch or slot fr in disk H to lock the delivery device. when said disk has reached the proper position. viz.: after one. revolution of the same. The releasing of key e may accomplish the same end, and when bell B stops ringing, notice is given to the operator at the central station that the message is being taken at the distant substation. This is a simple but not a very practical embodiment of my invention, for when key e at the central station is pressed, the message delivery device at any sub-station could be operated, upon pressing the corresponding key je, and the operator at the central station would be unable to tell which one of the message delivery devices was operated. In order to obviate this defeet', I provide a system such as described above, with answer back means as shown in Fig. 2. In the system shown inthisfigure, tl same type of autographic register, together with the magnet M, disk H having the notch o', and armature A having a detent adapted to engage notch o', are employed, but in addition a cam a is fixed to the disk H and is so arranged that when armature A releases disk H by disengaglng notch fr thereof and the handle C is turned, under orders given from the central station, the cam a will act ona lever Z) and `wind a spring which in turn `operates a train of wheels it having a shaft -0 provided with a break wheel which coacts with a wiper spring 7c to effect the transmission of a signal characteristic of the sub-station at which the autographic register is being operated, to the central station inv a manner similar to signal box mechanism. Attached to the lever Z) is a contact arm g which c0- acts with a stationary contact Z and which is adapted upon the operation of crank C to at once open the circuit through the magnet M at (.Z. IVhen a message has been received at a sub-station by telephone and copied on the register, orders aregiven to take the message. at the central station and sub-stations respectively and current from battery B will flow through conductor 7 to ground G. then through conductor 9, shaft o, train It, contacts g. (Z, conductor S. magnet M, conductors 2. Z, L, 4 and 5. bell B, and conductor 6 to battery B. The kevs e and e being held in circuit-closing position. bell B will ring until the crank C is turned and the circuit thereby opened at cZ, g.

As soon as a. complete revolution of disk H has been made, the armature A engages notch 1; of disk H to lock the register. At the same time, cam a releases lever b and the spring operated train h, which is provided with a suitable escapement, turns shaft o' and break wheel z' and effects the transmission of a number of impulses equal to the number of teeth on the break wheel i over the following circuit: B, 7, G, 9, o, z', c, 10, Z, L, 4, e, 5, B, and B. The bell B", responds to the impulses so sent giving the number of the sub-station. In this system,

Keys and e are pressed delivery devices on the line are at all liable to be operated at the same time. In Fig. 3 I have illustrated an improved form ofsystem having suitable selecting means whereby the delivery devices at a plurality of substations may be selectively controlled from the central station. It will be noticed that the selector instruments in this s vstem are in a multiple or bridged relation to eachv other, as the advantages of individuality with the multiple circuit are such that I prefer to use it. It will be seen that telephonie conversation is carried on over line wires L, L through condensers, it beingf-f well known that the telephonie currents willv operate satisfactorily on combination lines under these conditions.

In the system shown in Fig. 3, a`V simple selecting means of the well known step by step type is employed, but this system will operate equally as well with selector systems having periods of time and polarity. I

prefer, however, to employ a selective sys-l tem ysuch as disclosed in my Patent No. 901,411 hereinbefore mentioned. At substation 3 in Fig. 3 is shown a simple selector and a register operating magnet M for releasing an autographic register, not shown, but similar to that shown in Fig. 2. At the central station is a telltale or indicator Y that will show the sub-station in connection with the central station at any time. In order to release the message delivery device at a sub-station, for example, sub-station` No. 3, the operator at the central station actuates key e a number of times sutlicient to bring figure 3 in the open space of the casing of the indicator Y, which shows that contacts Z and k are in contact and that the delivery device at sub-station 3 may be released from the central station to deliver a message. Each time key e is actuated, a circuit is made over the following path: 11, SM', 12, L, `13, SM, 14, L, 15, B", 6, B, 17 and '18, thereby causing bell Bl to ring and also the indicator Y and the selector at substation 3 to beadvanced one step by means of the action of armatures A and A', pawls 25 and 25', and ratchets 26 and 26', in a manner well known. The selector is provided with a pawl s which coacts with ratchet 2G rand prevents backward movement thereof. Contacts c, Z being in circuit-closing position, -key e is now pressed and a circuit is made over the following path: 19, 17, B, 6, B", 15, L', 14, 20, 7c', l', 21, M, 8, (l, g. 9, Gr-G, and 22 to start. This releases the operating crank C, as described in connection with the form of my invention shown in Fig. 2. and when the messagek has been delivered, the answer back is sent to the central station over the following circuit: z', t, 23, `21, Z', 7;', 20, 11, L', 15, B", 6, B, 17, 19, e, 22, G-G, and 9. Indication that the message has been taken from the register is audibly sounded by the bell B".

'l`he system shown in Fig. 3 possesses many desirable features, but as the delivery devices thereof are manually operable, and consequently the operation thereof is dependent on the persons at the sub-stations performing the proper acts within a certain time, the same is not altogether satisfactory. It being desirable to provide means for operating the registers independently of the persons at the sub-stations. I have devised the form of message deliverydevice shown in Fig -1. The selecting means shown in Fig. -L is the same as is shown in Fig. 3, all the improvements in the arrangement shown in Fig. -L being in the message delivery device and its automatic operating means. This device consists of the paper rolls I, I' and I", copying pad B', rollers F, F', a take-up roll J for the strip of paper from rollI" having copies of the messages which al'e to be retained in the register, means such as belt .r and pulley y for operating roll J from roller F and for keepingthe paper wound on this roll, under tension, and the wheel H in geared relation to roller F and arranged to make one revolution upon each message delivery operation. The gear H is controlled by the spring-pressed armature A"" of magnet M, this armature coacting with a stop or detent 'v" on gear H to always arrest the-latter at a predetermined position thereof.

Fixed on shaft 0l are break wheels i and Z", the teeth lof wheel Z" being in advance of the teeth on wheel i, and a gear n, the latter being in geared relation to a gear m of the automatic operating means or motor. Gear wheel m is operable by a weight t at the end of arm o', and the coacting ratchet s and pawl s'; the arm o" and ratchet s being secured to the shaft of the winding crank c', which shaft is unattached to gear m, and the pawl' s' being carried by gear m. The downward movement of weight t is limited by a stop p. The wheel m is so designed as to turn gear n one complete revolution for every 90 of its travel. 'When the weight t is lifted to its highest point by turning crank c to the left, a contact is established between g and Z and an unbroken electrical connection is established between the selector contacts and the ground connections. rIhe speed at which the message is delivered is regulated by the star gear or wheel u geared to disk I-I, and the escapement u' and pendulum u" coperating therewith, whereby a distinct answer back will be effected by the action of the break wheels i and l". The break wheel Z" has a number of teeth of such lengths as to effect an answer back indicative of message delivery,'while wheel z' is provided with the proper number of teeth to effect an answer back charaeteristicof the number of the sub-station. The mode of operation is as follows: lVhen the -substation has been selected from the central station through the line wires L, L', conductors 14 and 13, and magnet SM, a contact is established between and Z'. The message dictated by telephone from the central station having been written on the paper at pad B', the person at the sub-station is ordered over the telephone to wind the register, which he does by turning crank c' to the left, thereby raising` weight t and establishing a contact between Z and g, the weight being then held in raised position by pawl s andl ratchet s.

1 If it is nowvv desired to deliver a message,

the proper` operation-is performed at the central stat-ion to send a current impulse over the circuit path L', 13, 20, Ic', Z', 21, M, 8, d, g, 9 and G, whereupon magnet M will be Ienergized and attract armature A"", thereby releasingy disk H and allowing weight t to fall and, through arm o', ratchet s, pawl s', and gears m and n, to operate thedelivery device. As the weight falls, the contact between g and d is broken and armature A"" assumes its normal position and will again engage the stop o" on disk H after a complete revolution of the latter. During the revolution of disk I-I by the weight motor, the teeth on break wheels z' and Z" will make and break contact with wiper springs 7u and k" respectively to effect the transmission of two distinct answer backs to the central station, one being indicative of message delivery and the other characvteristic of the sub-station.

By the use of message delivery devices lof the type shown in Fig. 4: in an arrangement suclras vshown in Fig. 3, I obtain a fairly practical system; but as my invention is designed primarily for use on railroads to deliver written train orders which have been transmitted'by telephone from a. central station, to.substations on the line where noregular operators are employed, signaling means should be employed wherebv a signal may be set from the central sta tion. ata substation where an order is to be given to a train crew, so as to give notice to the crew on their arrival at such substation to stop and get the order. I preferably employ for this purpose a selective signaling system of the type disclosed in my patent hereinbefore mentioned. Separate selectors for the signal and the register at each substation, however, load the line circuit so much as to make it heavy for use as the telephone line. Accordingly, I provide a svstem in which selective signaling means similar to that disclosed in my Patent No. 901,441 is employed, but which is so arranged as to employ a common selector for the signaling means and message delivery device at each substation, as shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to Fig. 5, the conductors 13 and 14 connected to the selector magnet SM, are in multiple relation to the line wires L, L. Then selection has been made and the gap between contacts and Z is bridged, a tripping current is sent from the central station. The circuit path for the tripping current is through L', 13, 20, km', ZW', 27, TM. Q8. g, d', f, and 29 to ground G. Magnet TM on being energized attracts armature a and releases rod f at 30. Semaphore E, E then moves to a stop position, thereby breaking the circuit at the drop switch g, d and operating the answer back movement c", Z", thus causing a number of impulses corresponding to the teeth on the break wheel Z" to be sent to the central station over the circuit path L` 13, 20, km',

27, s1, lf", z", 32, 29 and G, and transmitting intelligence that the signal is set,

at a stop position. lVhen the signal moves to this position rod 7' brings d into contact with g, but as the message delivlery circuit is open at d, g, this in no way interferes" with the signal circuit. `This arrangement prevents the operation of the message delivering device being effected from the central station until the signal is at a stop position and d in contact with g.

It will be apparent that before the magnet M can be. energized by an operation performed at the central station, the contacts CZ, g must also be brought into contact by a manual yoperation performed at the substation, which manual operation will also place the motor for the message delivery device in operative condition. These conditions having'been fulfilled and an order having been transmitted by means of the telephoneto the desired sub-station and inscribed on the corresponding autographic register by the person who is to take the written message, .the motor of the delivery device may be rendered operative, from the central station. to actuate the register and thereby effect the delivery of the message, in the manner above described. When the sub-station has been selected and the congizes magnet M and thereby .releases the message delivery device, permitting the motor thereof to actuate the register and deliver the message. Upon the operation of the motor, the motor controlling circuit will be opened at cl, g as previously described, and the break wheel z', l will be rotated, and the teeth of said wheel will make contact with the sp1-ingle, 7: and effect the transmission to the central station, of an answer back indicative of the operation of the delivery device and an answer back characteristic of the sub-station, over the circuit path L', is, 2o, 76", ZW', 27, a1, sa, as, k 7c, z' Z, 31, 35, g, d', f, :29 and G. Means are preferably provided for recording and timing at the central station the answer backs transmitted from the sub-stations, both by the signals and the message delivery devices, this means preferably being similar to that disclosed in my patent Ihereinbefore mentioned. Such means is also preferably employed in the systems as shown in Figs. 2, 3 Iand 4, to record and time the answer backs transmitted to the central station on the operation of the message delivery devices. A system embodying the features described `in connection with and disclosed in Figs. 3, 1 and 5 has proved very efiicient in practice and has no serious defects. By keeping magnet M out of the signal controlling circuit, the dangers thereto from lightning and other causes are largely obviate'd.

Figs. 6 to 8 show a very simple and eilicient type of motor-operated message delivery apparatus, which may be employed in any of the systems hereinbefore described. Referring more particularly to these figures, strips of paper from the rolls I, I and I pass over the pad B', Where carbon paper is interposed between the different strips, and then between the advancing rollers F, F. After leaving rollers F, F the paper strips from rolls I and I are delivered outside the casing for the mechanism, while the paper from roll I is wound on the roll J which is inside the casing. H is a large main gear which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 0 and is adapted to be driven by the motor ofthe apparatus when the latter is released, as will presently appear. Gear Ii is geared to roller F to. rotate the same and roller F to advance the paper from rolls I, I `and I. The gear H is also operatively connected by gearing H3 to roll J to actuate the latter. An escapement mechanism`u. u is operatively connected by gearing H2 to gear H and serves to control the speed of the delivery device when the motor is in operation. The operating means consists of a spring motor, although any other suitable motor may be employed, having a powerful coiled spring SP, one 4end of which is secured to clearly shown in Fig. 8. A winding crank c is secured tothe shaft 0 by a pin 41. A 130 ratchet 42 fixed to shaft o and a coperating spring pressed pawl 43 mounted on the frame of the apparatus, prevent backward movement of the crank c under the action of the motor. A disk 15 having a tooth 46 is secured to shaft o to turn therewith when crank c is turned to wind the motor. D represents a pivoted lever which is provided at one end with the armature A for magnet M. Secured to the other end of the lever are two spaced parallelarms D', one of which is provided with a beveled rprojection 44 adapted to coperate with the tooth 46 of disk 15 and the other of which is provided with a detent designed to engage the shoulders 38 and 39 an escapement blck secured to gear H, to hold the latter stationary. A pin 13 limits the movement of lever.

D away from magnet M and said lever is biased by gravity, or a spring, into engagement with this the detent 40 is adapted to engage the shoulder 38 of the block on gear H, as shown in Fig. 6.

Secured to gear H and loose on shaft o are 'break wheels i and Z adapted to coact with wiper springs le and k respectively, to .effect the transmission of answer backs to the central office indicativeof the operation of the delivery device and characteristic of the substation respectively, and also a disk d having a tooth 47 adapted to ooact with the contact spring g to control the electrical connection of magnet M with the central station. Break wheels z' and Z and disk d areconnected by conductor 48 to a binding post G. One terminal of magnet M is connected to contact g by conductor 49 and the other terminal thereof is connected to the binding post w by conductor 50. Wiper springs 7c and 7c are connected to conductor 50 between the magnet and binding post w by a conductor 51. The break Wheel is removable so that by replacing the same by another wheel having the proper number of teeth, the delivery apparatus'is adapted to be us'ed at any desired sub-station in the system. I will now describe the operation of this apparatus and the arrangement' employed to connect the saine in operative relation to the central station, with especialreference to Figs. 9 to 11. Under normal conditions, that is., with the apparatus inoperative, and the spring S P run down,.lever D is in en- ,ga-gement with pin 13', stop or .detent 40 is in engagement with shoulder 38 of the block on gear H to hold the latter stationary, and tooth 47 is out of engagement with the 'contact spring g and the circuit for magnet M is accordingly open, as shown in Fig. 9. r'It will be seen that with the lever D in this position, the air .gap b isl verywide and 'there is no danger of the armature A being attracted to release the delivery apparatus` even though magnet M be energized to sat-' pin. When in this positionV uration. Moreover, the magnet M will not be in circuit until the apparatus has been manually connected into the line. When the `message has been written at B', the crank 'c' is turned to put the spring S, P= under suflicient tension to deliver the message.` The turning of' crank c rotates the toothed disk 15', the tooth 46 of which is sov arranged that during such rotation of the disk', it will engage and move over and past the projection 44 and thereby move lever D and arms D, D thereof, so that the detent 40 will be raised out of engagement with the shoulder 38 of theblock on gear H and into the path of shoulder 39 of such block. This releases gear H, whereupon the spring S P acts to turn the same the slight amount necessary Ato bring the shoulder 39 into locking engagement with detent 40. This slight movement of gear H causes a` corresponding movement of disk Z to bring the same into engagement with the contact spring g through its tooth 46, whereby an uninterrupted electrical connection is `established from G through 48, CZ, g, 49,M and 50, to yw. Fig. 10 shows the positions of the parts shown in Fig. 9, under these conditions. It will also be noted that the air gap b has now been shortened. As shown in Fig. 11, if the magnet M is now energized, armature A will be attracted and the lever D moved to disengage the detent 40 from shoulder 39 and allow the motor to complete the revolution of gear H and deliver the message, the gear H by its movement, causing a like movement of disk d and breaking the contact between projection 47 and spring g, which effects the'denergization of magnet M and thereupon the yreturn of lever D to a position inv engagement with pin 13. Also,

duringthe completion of the rotation ofq gear H, the break wheels z' and Z are turned and the teeth thereof make and break contact with spring contacts la and lc respectively to effect the transmission of answer backs over the circuit path w', 50,-51, 48 and G. `When the revolution of the gear H and accordingly the delivery operation of the apparatus have been completed, the position of thevparts will again be that shown in Fig. 9, and will not again be changed until the handle c is turned to wind the motor.

Figs. 12 to 15 show a novel form of winding lnechanism which may be employed for any of the motor-operated message delivery devices hereinbefore' described, whereby after the motor is wound and the winding pressure is relieved, no further control of the winding crank over the motor may be Y Lio y cient energy in the motor to eHect, on the release of the latter, the proper operation of the delivery device to deliver a message of the desired length. The winding crank c is secured by a pin 340 to one end of a sleeve 304 which; is loosely mounted on shaft o and retained in position thereon as by a screw 310.` The other end of sleeve 304 is provided with an arm 305 having secured thereto adjacentits outer end, a long transversely extending pin 312...

A gravity pawl 306 is pivotally mounted on pin 312 and is adapted to engage a notch 307 in the periphery of a circular disk 302 which is secured to theshaft o". A coiled spring 311 which is always under consider'- able tension, has one end connected to the hub of disk 302 and the other end to the pin 312 beyond the pawl 306, and constantly eX- erts a force tending to turn arm 305 and thereby crank c in a direction opposite that necessary for winding. A plate 309 of peculiar shape is loosely mounted on shaft o between sleeve 304 and disk 302, and a small band spring 315 has one end secured to vthe arm 305,and the other end to the plate,...

309 bya pin 316. Spring 315 which is of less strength than spring 311, is under tension and tends to move plate 309, referring to Figs. 13 to 15,'in a clock-wise direction with respect to arm 305 and crank c secured to the latter. Stop pins 313 and 314 secured to plate 309 coact with arm 305 to limit the relative angular movement of plate 309 and arm 305. Plate 309 is provided with a segmental portion, the periphery of which has the same radius as the periphery of disk 302. and a proiection carrying the pin 316 and which is adapted to engage the stop pin 317 and limit the movement of the parts tov the right, with reference tov Figs. 13 to 15. The plate 309 is provided on the periphery of its segmental portion with a notch 308 having inclined sides. A stop pin 330 or the like is adapted to limit the winding movement of crank c to 90. apparent that pawl 306 can engage the notch 307 only. when the plate 309 and disk 302 are in such relative positions that notches 307 and 308 register.

Fig. 13 shows the parts of the winding lmechanism in normal position. When in this'position, the spring 311 maintains the arm 305. in opposition to spring 315, against the pin 313 and the plate 309 against the pin 317. The disk 302 is in position with the notch 307 registering with notch 308 of plate 309 and pawl 306 is accordingly in engagement with these notches. Referring es- It will. be

pecially to Figs. 13 to 15, if the motor is run down and the parts are in normal position, as shown in' Fig. 13, and it is desired to wind the motor, the crank c is turned to the left through 90O until it comes into engagement with stop pin 330. Durin@ this movement of crank o, owing to the fact that the motor spring or weight exerts much more force th an spring 315,no relative movement of plate 309 and arm 305 will take place and notches 307 and 308 will remain in register and pawl 306 will therefore remain in these notches and turn disk 302 and shaft o through 90o and effect a complete revolution of the motor shaft o through gears 350 and 351. As soon as the winding pressure is removed fromcrank c, it being understood that suitable locking means holds the motor in` wound position, spring 315 at once acts to move plate 309 relatively to disk 302 until pin 314 engages arm 305, whereupon the inclined side of notch 308 will move pawl 306 from engagement with notch 307 of disk 302 and the latter notch will be covered by the peripheral portion of plate 309, all as shown in` Fig. 14. Spring 311 will now act to return arm 305, crank of', and plate 309 to their normal positions, and plate 302 will remain in the position to which it has been moved by the winding operation, until the motor is released, as shown in Fig. 15. Upon the release of the motor, thelatter in its operation will return disk 302 to normal position and put spring 311 underits original tension and the parts will again be .in the positions shown in Fig. 13, when notches 307 and 308 will register and pawl 306 will move into engagement therewith. It will beapparent that no matter how crank c is manipulated, it will` be impossible to engage pawl 306 with notch 307, during the return movement of disk 302 under the actionl of the motor, as the notches will never be in regis- .may be further protected, as by providing means for preventing the message paper of the register from being mutilated or written upon by anyone when no orders are being given. To accomplish this, I have provided.

a vdevice comprising a protective cover, which preferably coperates both with the signal andthe telephone instrument at the respective sub-station, and which, when in protecting position, locks the winding handle or crank of the register and also covers the message paper in a manner that will eX clude dust and dampness as much as possible.v It .is proposed to prevent this cover fromV being raised unless the signal is at a stop or calling position, or the telephone receiver is off its hook, or both. This arrangement may not stop all of the tampering with the register, but it will at least prevent a greater part of it. The essential features of this arrangement are shown in Fig. 16 wherein the casing, shown in section, is the casing of the autographic register located at' any sub-station.

Reference character 213 represents the protective cover for the pad B and the message paper which moves therover. This cover is provided with a handle 212 and is secured by one or more arms 215, to shaft 216. The cover is provided with suitable means (not shown) for locking the winding crank of the register when the cover is in closed position A sector gear 217 is secured to shaft 216 andfmeshes with a gear 217 which is loosely mounted on a shaft to lwhich an escapement wheel 218 is secured. The gear 217 has a spring-pressed pawl 241 pivotally mounted thereon, which pawl coacts with a ratchet wheel 240 secured to the shaft on which gear 217 is mounted. (See Fig. 17). An escapement pawl'219 for the Wheel 218 and a hammer 220 adapted to strike a gong or bell 221 on the standard 222, are Xed to a rotatably mounted shaft 223. The pawl 241 and ratchet 240 are so arranged that,\when cover 213 is raised and sectpr 217 moves gear 217 in one direction, the escapement wheel 218 -will be turned and thereby cause pawl 219 and hammer 220 to vibrate, and when the cover is ylowered and sector 217 moves gear 217 inthe opposite direction, pawl 241 will merely slip over the teeth on ratchet 240 and the escapementI wheel 218 will not be turned. A pin or stud 238 is secured to shaft 223 and will vibrate with the hammer 220 and the pawl 219.

c Reference character 237 represents a detent ,formedon an arm 236, which arm is movable about the axis of shaft 239 to move the detent into and out of the path of the pin 238. It will be apparent that when detent 237 isv in engagement with pin238 the cover will be locked in closed position. The telephone hook 225 for the telephone receiver 224, which is connected to the central station by a suitable circuit as hereinbefore described, is pivotally mounted on a shaft 226 and operatively connected to the arm 236 by a lever and link system 227, 231, 228, 229, 230, 232, 233, 234 and 235. When the receiver is on the hook 225 this system will hold the detent 237 on arm 236 in the path of pin 238 and thereby lock the cover 213, but when the receiver is taken olf the hook 225, the spring 225 will actuate the lever and link system to move the detent 237 out of the path of the pin 238 and unlock the cover, at least as far as the telephone receiver is concerned. The signal rod f is provided with an offset rod 203 which is connected at its upper end to the semaphore signal E E. Rod f is also provided with a lug 205 in which a rod 206 slides, the rod 206 having a collar 207 therein adapted to engage lug 205. Rod v206 is pivotally connected at its lower end to an arm 208 which in turn is connected to an arm 210 mounted on shaft 209. Whenthe semaphore is held in normal or proceed' position by means coacting with rod f, such as hereinbefore described, the arm 210 will be held fixed in the positionshown in Fig. 16 and prevent cover 213 from being raised. When the means which holds the rod f is released from the central station, this rod and the offset rod 2 03 will drop and set the signal at stop position, as shown. This movement of rod f moves the lug 205 away from collar 207 and thereby releases arm 210, and in consequence cover 213 and the latter may be raised, as far as the signal means is con` cerned. It will be apparent that if the cover is now opened, the restoring of the signal to a normal position will effect the closing of the cover and the locking of the same in closed position.

The cover 213 is provided with a spring catch 211 and the offset of shafts 209 and 216 and the position of arm 210 are such that when the cover is raised, the catch 211 will spring over the end of arm 210 and hold the cover in raised position. Either the signal or the telephone receiver locking device for the cover 213 may be employed alone, but I preferably employ both of these locking devices as the message paper of the register will thereby be more surely protected against mutilation.

The operation of the'protective means for the autographic register is as follows: When a sub-station is called and the signal is set to call the train crew to the telephone, the cover '213 is unlocked, as far as the signal is concerned, but is still locked by reason of the telephone receiver being on its hook. As soon as the telephone receiver 224 is removed from its hook 225, the cover 213 is fully unlocked and on order from the central station, the cover is lifted so as to write the message on the paper in the register. The raising of the cover causes the vibration of hammer 220 as above described and rings the bell 221. The ringing of the bell is transmitted to the operator at the central station by means of the telephone transmitter and the line circuit and gives notice that the cover is being opened.

The various systems and apparatus which I have specifically described herein are merely illustrative, and it 1s to be understood that the same are subject to many changes and modifications without departing from the spirit of my-invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having now describedmy invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows v 1. A message delivery system comprising a plurality of separated stations, a message -delivery device adapted for' the reception of a manually inscribed message located at one of said stations, and means whereby the delivery of such a manually inscribed message from said device may be controlled from another of said stations.

2. A system of the character described comprising a plurality of separated "sta tions, a message delivery device adapted for the reception of a manually inscribed message located at one of said stations, means for holding said device inoperative, and means controllable from another of said stations to release said holding means and thereby render said device operative to deliver such a manually inscribed message.

3. A system of the character ldescribed comprising a normally inoperative message delivery device adapted for the reception of a manually inscribed message, and means whereby said device .may be controlled to render the same operative to deliver such a manually inscribed message at a point remote therefrom.

4. A system of the character described comprising a message delivery device provided with material on which a message as received from a point remote from said device is adapted to'be manually inscribed, and means for controlling the delivery of such a manually inscribed message from said point.

5. A system of the character ldescribed comprising an autographic device having material on which a message is adapted to be manually inscribed as received from a remote point, and means for rendering said device operative from said remote point to deliver a predetermined length of said material therefrom. y

6. A system of the character'described comprising an autographic manifolding device, and means to control the same from a distant point to render the same operative to deliver a predetermined length of material on which a message may have been written, said device being provided with means for retaining a copy of any such message. y

7. A system of the character described. comprising a message vdelivery device adapt? ed for the reception of a manually Ainscribed message, means comprising a member provided with an armature adapted to-coperate with said device to hold the same inoperative, and means for controlling the operation of said member from a remote point to render said device operative to'deliver such a manually inscribed message comprising an electric circuit including an electromagnet for said armature.

8. A system of the character described comprising a message delivery device-adapted for the reception of a manually inscribed Av'comprising a pair of stations, an electric circuit connecting said stations and over which messages are adapted to lbe transmitted, a message delivery device at one of said stations having material on which a message so transmitted is adapted to be manuallyinscribed, and means including a portionl of said circuit. for controlling said device to render the same operative to deliver a message so inscribed from the other of said stations.

10. A system of the character described comprising a pair of stations, amessage delivery device located at one of said stations and provided with material on which a message is adapted to be manually inscribed, means controllable from the other of said lstations to render said device operative to deliver such material, and means for indicating atthe latter station that said device has been rendered operative.

11. A system of the character described comprising a pair of stations connected by an electric circuit, a message delivery device located at one of said stations and provided with material on which a message is adapted to be manually inscribed, and means whereby the operation ofV said device to deliversuch material may be controlled over said circuit from the other of said stations.

12. A system of the character described comprising a message delivery device provided with a manifold on which a message as received from a distant point is adaptedy 

